Optical/radio local access network

ABSTRACT

A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a central controller that executes instructions facilitating performance of operations including monitoring multiple network nodes, at least some of the network nodes being in communication with others through respective point-to-point links. Each point-to-point link includes a respective free space optical channel. The central controller detects optical received signal strength of a free space optical channel falling below a certain level and provides control signals to reconfigure the multiple network nodes. Signals are re-routed along one of the respective point-to-point links through other network nodes responsive to detecting the optical received signal strength falling below the certain level Other embodiments are disclosed.

PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 14/189,721, filed Feb. 25, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/485,440, filed Jun. 16, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,682,171, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/894,928, entitled “OPTICAL/RADIO LOCAL ACCESS NETWORK,” filed Aug. 22, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,565,081, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/215,903, entitled “OPTICAL/RADIO LOCAL ACCESS NETWORK,” filed Aug. 31, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,274,877, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/691,949, entitled “OPTICAL/RADIO LOCAL ACCESS NETWORK,” filed Oct. 23, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,010,227, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/641,083, entitled “OPTICAL/RADIO LOCAL ACCESS NETWORK,” filed on Aug. 17, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,788,898 issued on Sep. 7, 2004, which claims the benefit of Provisional Appl. Ser. No. 60/197,220, filed Apr. 14, 2000, each of which are incorporated herein by reference herein in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention relates to a local access network that links nodes with a free space optical channel In particular, the invention relates to a network that brings telephony and data services to the home without a need for wire or fiber to the home.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Free space optical transmission links are known and can provide broadband service potentially superior to that of radio wireless services. However, the free space optical transmission links are degraded in adverse environment conditions. It has been a challenge to offer continued service when high data rate optical links are unavailable

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Free space optical channels link together plural distributed switching nodes into a network. A central controller commands these nodes over a known radio telephone system to select alternative network routes to a destination that will bypass adverse environment conditions.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a network with broadband performance even in the presence of adverse link conditions such as rain or fog. It is a further object of the present invention to provide 911 services and critical low speed data services in the presence of adverse link conditions.

These and other objects are achieved in a communication system that includes a plurality of nodes and a plurality of point-to-point links that interconnect the plurality of nodes into a network. Each node includes an optical switch to controllably route a plurality of in-ports of the optical switch into a plurality of out-ports of the optical switch. Each point-to-point link includes a free space optical channel. A first free space optical channel couples to a first node through a receive path and a through a transmit path. The receive path couples to a respective in-port of the optical switch of the first node, and the transmit path couples to a respective out-port of the optical switch of the first node.

These and other objects are achieved in an alternative embodiment of a communication hub that includes a plurality of neighborhood links to corresponding users, an optical switch coupled to the plurality of neighborhood links, and a trunk coupled between the optical switch and a free space optical channel link to the network.

These and other objects are achieved in a method of communicating in a network having plural links that includes sensing the presence of a received signal failure by monitoring channel losses in a first link, the received signal failure resulting from at least one of rain and fog. The method further includes sending data in a free space optical channel of the first link when the received signal failure is sensed due to rain and sending the data in an RF channel of the first link when the received signal failure is sensed due to fog.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in detail in the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the following figures wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a broadband local access communication system according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a metro communication network of the system of FIG. 1 according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a portion of a node of the metro communication network according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic of an outdoor unit (ODU) according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an alternative configuration to process an inbound optical WDM signal on a multi-mode fiber into an optical WDM signal on a single-mode fiber according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a local communication hub according to the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a demultiplexer for wavelength division multiplex signals as used in the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 1, access communication system 1 includes metro grid communication system 10 as a first-level system, direct customer specific point-to-point links to customer sites 104 as a second-level system, and pole-to-home links to customers' homes 102 from a neighborhood pole 100 as a third-level system. Communication system 1 serves metropolitan areas characterized by tall buildings to support nodes of the system in metro grid 10, and it extends to the limits of neighborhoods 2 or suburbs of the metropolitan area. Each link of metro grid 10 preferably supports an optical signal or channel 34 (as shown in FIG. 2) and an RF signal or channel 36 (as shown in FIG. 2) that may be selectively enabled depending on weather conditions.

Within neighborhood 2, towers and/or poles 100 often serve to support nodes in the local neighborhoods. Services for the neighborhoods are wavelength multiplexed together (for optical signals) and/or frequency multiplexed together (for RF signals) and linked between neighborhood pole 100 and metro grid 10.

Some sites, for example a business in either the metro area or the neighborhoods, may require a dedicated high-speed link. To serve this need, a customer-specific point-to-point ink is established to customer site 104. Such a point-to-point link typically carries a single wavelength optical signal and/or a single frequency RF signal.

Area communication system 1 is advantageously linked to other communications systems. For example, another communication system 5 might be linked via fiber link 6 to area communication system 1, and communication system 5 might be, for example, a SONET ring system.

In FIG. 2, communication system 10 includes a plurality of nodes, depicted as nodes 12, 14, 16 and 18, that are typically located on the top of buildings, at windows in buildings or on the outside walls of buildings in metropolitan areas and on towers elsewhere. Each node is coupled to a network control system that includes central controller 20, land lines 22 and one or more radio towers 24. Radio towers 24 communicate with the nodes over wireless links 26. The control system may advantageously include a typical cellular telephone system, controller 20 (located at a convenient location) and cell phone transceiver 46 at each node to direct the operation of communication system 10.

The nodes are configured into a network by a plurality of point-to-point links 30 of which link 32 is typical. Each link, as depicted by link 32, includes a bidirectional (e.g., duplex) free space optical channel 34. However, in any single link, there may be only a unidirectional channel. Furthermore, in an alternative embodiment of the invention as discussed below, one or more links, as depicted by link 32, further includes radio frequency (RF) channel 36. RF channel 36 and free space optical channel complement each other. The RF channel propagates better than the optical channel through fog and the optical channel propagates better than a millimeter wave RF channel through rain.

Each node includes at least one outdoor unit 40 (hereinafter ODU), and typically a plurality of ODUs. For example, eight ODUs 40 are depicted in FIG. 2 on the top of a building at node 12. Each ODU is coupled to switch circuit 42 through respective cables 44. Each ODU couples free space optical signals received over link 30 into cable 44, and propagates optical signals in a fiber in cable 44 as free space optical signals link 30. In some embodiments of the invention, each ODU also couples data from an RF path received over link 30 into cable 44 and propagates data over an RF path from cable 44 over link 30. Typically, cable 44 includes two fibers to carry inbound and outbound optical signals and, if the respective link includes an RF channel, the ODU includes inbound and outbound RF cables (e.g., coax cables). Switch circuit 42 is controlled by controller 20 through cell phone transceiver 46.

The free space optical channel (hereinafter FSOC) can transmit super high bandwidths that no other wireless technology can offer. However, the FSOC availability is degraded when fog sets in. A best way to harness the bandwidth offered by the FSOC technology is to use it in an “as available basis” and to have radio channels for backup and redundancy when the optical channel is unavailable. The drawback with a radio channel as a backup or for redundancy is that a radio channel cannot support the bandwidth that can be carried over an FSOC. However, a radio channel can continue to offer services at a lower data rate.

FIG. 2 shows four nodes in a network connected to each other. Fog cell 38 is shown in this figure to show that an FSOC can go out of service. Also shown are laser beams and their wavelengths connect the FSOC links. The radio frequency chosen for the backup line should have complementary characteristics or should be fade-free for the link under consideration. For example, the optical channel and the radio channel should not fade at the same time. The spectrum chosen for the radio link is either a 38 GHz radio or an ISM band spectrum (i.e., industrial, scientific and medical band including 5 GHz, 2.4 GHz, 960 MHz, 400 MHz and 200 MHz bands). The 38 GHz radio (mm-wave) fades under rainy conditions and does not fade when there is fog. This is because the wavelength of the mm-wave is of the order of the size of raindrops. The converse applies to the optical beams, where the optical wavelength is of the order of the of the water fog droplet. As a result, in fog the optical beam scatter, resulting in heavy attenuation to the optical beam. To transmit at mm-wave band, one needs to own a license for the frequency spectrum. An advantage of this is that no interference or jamming by other mm-wave users should occur.

With the growth in RF IC designs, there are radios available in the license-free ISM band. A 5 GHz radio in the UNII band is a good candidate for the redundant path since this offers good transmission characteristics, line of sight link and uses 802.11 as a standard. In addition to this backup radio link, cellular phone transceiver 46 is shown at each node. This may be a standard mobile cell radio connected to the FSOC controller 20 located at a network operation center or elsewhere. Controller 20 communicates with all the cellular radios to send commands and receive status information from all the nodes.

In FIG. 3, a portion of node 50 include ODUs 52, 54 and 56, cell phone transceiver 46, switch 60, optical-to-electrical-to-optical interfaces 62, and cables 44. Each ODU includes a telescope 74, an RF unit 76 and an input/output interface 45. Interface 45 enables the ODU to send outbound signal traffic from outbound fiber 78 selectably to telescope 74 or RF unit 76. Interface 45 also enables the ODU to receive inbound signal traffic on inbound fiber 79 selectably from either telescope 74 or RF unit 76. The routing of interface 45 is controlled by signals from transceiver 46.

Telescope 74 of ODU 56 focuses inbound optical signal 34 into a multimode fiber, and the inbound signal is routed through interface 45 to inbound single-mode fiber 79. Optical-to-electrical-to-optical interface 62 also includes driver-amplifier and source 68 to provide an optical signal that is coupled through input single-mode fiber 70 into switch 60. Local controller 58 under commands from cellular phone transceiver 46 controls switch 60 to reflect the optical signal into output single-mode fiber 72. The optical signal passes through output single-mode fiber 72, through single-mode fiber 78, through interface 45 into telescope 74 of ODU 52 to transmit free space optical signal 34 outbound.

Add and/or drop multiplexers 84 from the building in which node 50 is located are coupled through electrical bus 82 and bus controller 80 into or from bus 66. Add and/or drop fiber optic lines 88 from the building in which node 50 is located are coupled through converter 86 (e.g., having a fused biconic taper and detector on the optical receive side and a laser on the transmit side) through electrical bus 82 and bus controller 80 into or from bus 66.

In the event that fog blocks the optical channel of the link served by ODU 52, transceiver 46 communicates with controller 20 which in turn sends commands via radio link 26 or equivalent land line links to local controller 58. Local controller 58 commands interface 45 so that optically converted inbound radio signal 36 is coupled from RF unit 76, through interface 45 into inbound fiber 79 of cable 44 in the place of the optical signal from telescope 74. In a variant, some or all of the ODUs include gimbals (one or two axes) and servo controllers commanded by cell phone transceiver 46 to repoint the telescope and RF unit.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a node, and it shows three FSOC link telescopes on which are mounted mm-wave or ISM band radio. Also shown in this figure is a cellular radio output connected to local controller 58 which, in turn, controls a MEMs (or other optical) switch. The MEMs switch provides the redirection (routing) of the optical beams, which is controlled by a local controller. The inputs to the local controller are from the cellular radio terminal, or the redundant radio link. There are three links at each node: first is an optical link for high-speed data transmission; second is a radio link for redundant lower speed data; and third is a cellular radio link for command and control. The command and control information on the cellular radio is preferably fed to the radio link to provide redundancy to the control data at nodes in cases when cellular link is not available. Additional redundancy is obtained by sending the data on the radio to the optical link either by FDM (frequency), TDM (time) or WDM (wavelength) on the optical wavelength.

The only elements of the link that need be on the roof, at a window or on a side a building are the outdoor units (ODUs), In FIG. 4, an outdoor unit includes telescope 74, rotation gimbal 47, nod gimbal 48, servo controller (not shown), the radio unit 76 and input/output interface 45. The ODU interfaces with two optical connectors 78, 79 that form cable 44 (see FIG. 3). The optical transmit signal is connected to the ODU by single-mode fiber 78 coming from the laser transmitter, which is located in an indoor unit (IDU). The optical receive signal from interface 45 is connected to the IDU by single-mode fiber 79. Interface 45 includes fiber optic splitter 45-1 to split the signal from fiber 78 into two optical signals carried on respective fibers to RF detector 76-1 and telescope 74, respectively.

RF unit 76 includes optical detector 76-1 (e.g., a photodiode) and laser source 76-2 (e.g., a laser diode or an LED). Optical detector 76-1 converts an optical signal received from splitter 45-1 into an electrical signal to modulate the RF unit. Laser source 76-2 modulates an electrical signal received by RF unit 76 into an optical signal transmission over a fiber to optical detector Interface further includes optical to electrical converters 45-2 and 45-3 (also called detectors, photodiodes). Optical detector 45-2 the optical signal from laser source 76-2 (or RF unit 76), and optical detector 45-3 receives the optical signal from telescope 74. Telescope 74 concentrates the received signal into a multi-mode fiber that is coupled to optical detector 45-3. The electrical outputs from detector 45-2 and 45-3 are provided to single-pole double-throw electrical switch 45-4. Detectors 45-2 and 45-3 are also coupled to signal quality monitor 45-5 that is in turn coupled to control electrical switch 45-4. Monitor 45-5 through which channel (optical or RF) strongest signal is received, and then commands switch to provide the strongest signal to laser source 45-6. Laser source 45-6 converts the electrical signal into an optical signal on single-mode fiber 79. In the IDU, as shown by FIG. 3, the optical receive signal from fiber 79 is converted to an electrical signal on electrical bus 66 by optical detector 64 (i.e., photodiode) and then remodulated as an optical signal by laser source 68 (e.g., laser diode) and propagated over a single-mode fiber into MEMS switch 60. Interface 45 is controlled by transceiver 46 to selected either RF or optical duplex operation.

As shown in FIG. 3, co-located to the IDU is an electrical add-drop multiplexer (ADM) 84 and connection to a passive optical node (PON) network 88. The optical beam received from a distant link is available at the output of the ODU, which is connected to the IDU by a multi-mode fiber. This allows ail the active optical elements to be inside the building in a controlled environment for reliability and flexibility to operate.

Optical links are made out of the ODU and IDU. The IDU has the laser transmitters and optical receivers. The power output and wavelength is selected by the IDU. The output from the laser is fed to the MEMs optical switch routing. The routed output of the MEMs switch is connected to the telescope in the ODU by a single-mode fiber. The optical receiver at the IDU is connected by a multi-mode fiber from the ODU. The optical receiver converts the optical signal into electrical. This allows the optical beam received through the free space to be converted to electrical by direct detection.

In FIG. 5, a variant circuit 140 as an alternative configuration includes a multi-mode wavelength demultiplexer 142 coupled between inbound multi-mode fiber 79 and optical-to-electrical-to-optical interface 62. Demultiplexer 142 separates the inbound WDM signal on single-mode fiber 79 into plural signals dependent on wavelength. In the figure, the inbound signal is separated by demultiplexer 142 into three optical signals, defined by wavelengths λ₁, λ₂, λ₃, and the three single wavelength optical signals are provided on output multi-mode fibers 144, 146 and 148. The three wavelength optical signals are processed through optical-to-electrical-to-optical interface 62 and, from there, are provided on respective single-mode fibers 154, 156 and 158.

Optical-to-electrical-to-optical interface 62 as discussed with respect to FIG. 3. Optical detector 64 converts an optical signal on inbound multimode fiber (e.g., 144) into an electrical signal on electrical bus 66, and laser source 68 (e.g., a laser diode) converts the electrical signal on electrical bus 66 into an optical signal on a single-mode fiber (e.g., 154). A function of optical-to-electrical-to-optical interface 62 is to convert an optical signal carried in a multi-mode fiber into an optical signal carried on a single-mode fiber. A difference between single-mode and multi-mode fibers is fiber wavelengths. For wavelengths in the 1550 nanometer band, a fiber having a diameter of from 9 to 12 microns will only support a single mode. However, if the diameter were larger (e.g., 60 microns or more), multiple modes could propagate within the fiber. An optical signal received by a telescope can focused into a multi-mode fiber to achieve low coupling loss. Optical-to-electrical-to-optical interface 62 detects the optical signal from a multi-mode fiber (e.g., 144, 146 or 148) and reconstitutes the optical signal in a single-mode fiber (e.g., 154, 156 or 158) at respective wavelengths (see FIG. 3).

In FIG. 5, biconic taper fiber 152 (or similar functioning device) combines signals that are carried in single-mode fiber 154, 156 and 158 and provides the combined WDM signal to optional optical amplifier 150. Amplifier 150 is preferably an erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) but may be of other design. Amplifier 150 provides the amplified signal level that is provided to MEMS switch 60 (see FIG. 3).

Radio links of the system use LAN (10base-t or 100base-t) interface cards. The data field in the LAN has the address and status information of all the nodes in the network. This would allow any node in the network to know the status of any other node. By providing a dedicated data field in the LAN, it is possible to offer 911 services and a few voice calls. The rest of the data field is used for information transfer. When more than one branch fails, the “information data field” is shared by the failed branches as in the case of a LAN.

The purpose of the cellular link is to provide an interface to the remote controller to monitor and control the nodes. There is a cellular radio installed at each node works with the local cellular radio provider. When the optical received strength falls below a certain level, it generates an alarm that the cellular radio transmits to controller. The controller uses this information to send the required commands to the nodes for reconfiguration. The cellular radio has a data interface card to transmit locally generated alarms and status conditions and to receive commands from the remote controller.

The ADM and distribution cards are located at the IDU. The electrical signals generated by the optical receiver are used locally for distribution or regenerated if required and sent to a laser for routing through the links, or to a PON for distribution. The E bus shown in FIG. 3 has all the electrical obtained from the optical receivers.

In a second embodiment, this architecture has only two layers, optical and cellular without the radio layer. This would allow for cost reduction and spectrum unavailability for the radio link. In this architecture, the optical link provides the data throughput, and the cellular radio provides the monitoring, management of the network node and a 911 call capability.

As discussed with respect to FIG. 1, a customer specific point-to-point link to customer site 104, for example a business, is typical of a site that may require a dedicated high speed link in either the metro area or the neighborhoods. To serve this need, a point-to-point link is established that typically carries a single wavelength optical signal and/or a single frequency RF signal (e.g., a 38 GHz radio). The optical and RF channels each serve as a backup link for the other based on weather where multiple broadband radio links are required at the subject node location. Cellular or other low data rate wireless links are used for monitoring, command and control.

In FIG. 6, local hub 100 is mounted on a neighborhood pole or suitable tall structure in the neighborhood to be served with “to the home” service. Local hub 100 includes optical-to-electrical-to-optical interface 62, electro-optical switch 60, and cellular phone transceiver 46. The cellular phone controls the local hub by relaying commands received from radio tower 24 over wireless link 26 and reporting status to radio tower 24 over wireless link 26. Control of local hub 100 by way of the radio link is the same as control of the network depicted in FIG. 2.

Local hub 100 includes a WDM or DWDM fiber coupler 120. Coupler 120 is a tree configuration providing for the multiplex and/or demultiplex of multiple wavelength optical signals in a fiber. FIG. 7 shows a 1×16 fiber-based coupler 120 where a carrying 16 wavelengths (λ₁ through λ₁₆) is demultiplexed into 16 individual fibers, carrying a corresponding wavelength.

Local hub 100 further includes 1×2 electro-optical switch 116. Hub 100 is connected through 1×2 electro-optical switch 116 to the network depicted in FIG. 2 over fiber links 114 or over free space optical channel (FSOC) link 112. A wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical signal received from a network is demultiplexed in coupler 120 and routed appropriately through switch 60 and interface 62. A demultiplexed optical signal of the appropriate wavelength may routed to homes 102 over a distance of several hundreds of meters using FSOC telescopes mounted on the pole, tower or building on which the hub is mounted, When home 104 is too from hub 100, a length of optical fiber may be used to carry the signal to an FSOC telescope located closer to the home. When plural homes 105 are too far from hub 100, a length of optical fiber is used to carry optical signals to an all-fiber-based optical coupler 106, suitably located to broadcast via FSOC telescopes to homes 105. Similarly, all-fiber-based optical coupler 106 separates other wavelengths and can deliver data on fiber cables 108 directly to one or more homes 107 without going through FSOC telescopes. In exactly the reverse direction, optical from homes 102, 104, 105 and 107 are transported to interface 62 and switch 60 and then to coupler 120. Coupler 120 is coupled through switch 116 either to FSOC link 112 to the network of FIG. 2 or to optical fiber cables 114 to the network of FIG. 2.

Routing of the data network through the FSOC link is shown in FIG. 6. In this embodiment the optical and radio architecture is used for low cost wide distribution local access “pole to home.” In this arrangement a micro local hub is located at the base of a suitable structure (pole, tower or building), or similarly to the above embodiments, roof mounted. The local hub is designed to receive fiber fed optical signals that may be from a FSOC link or from fiber routed to the neighborhood. Optical signals entering the optical-to-electrical-to-optical transceiver interface will be in a single-mode format where possible, but in the case of the FSOC receiver interface, will be a multi-mode fom1at until such time as a low loss multi-mode to single-mode conversion can achieved.

The fiber and/or FSOC interface is routed through a 1×2 optical/electrical switch. Note that the multi-mode signal from the FSOC device is first electrically detected and converted back into a single-mode optical signal prior to going through the optical switch.

The optical signals are then fed to all-fiber based couplers with a tree structure providing the multiplex of multiple wavelengths in a 1×2, 1×16 or 1×N configuration (providing customer wavelength allocation, see FIG. 7). Such devices allow customer data to be loaded onto a single wavelength. Standard wavelength non-specific all-fiber technology can be in this application, but at the cost of significantly lowering the optical signal to noise ratio and a requirement that detectors at customer end must and process all the transmitted

The wavelength selected individual fiber outputs are then directed to the network side a MEMS-based or other optical switch, with a 1×16 to 1×N selectable output. The presence of the switch is similar to the above-described MEMS switch embodiment in that it provides an overlaying RF cellular-based switch selection architecture for routing and restoration of customer channels; it also provides an added capability of service activation/deactivation via remote (cellular control of the switches' micro optical mirrors).

The single-mode specific wavelength optical signal output to the customer is fiber-fed to a dedicated ground-level local “fiber-to-the-home” or a low cost FSOC device mounted on a suitable structure for short 100-200 meter transmissions to the customer premise. A number of optical, radio, fiber and cable “deployments to the home” scenarios are possible with this MEMS-based optical/RF hub application.

The return path is a single-mode signal for fiber-dedicated arrangements; but a multi-mode signal received from the FSOC bulk optics focal plane is electrically detected and converted back to a single-mode optical signal via a low cost single wavelength laser transmitter and launched back into the MEMs switch for return path routing. A more flexible embodiment would use wavelength selectable the return path located at the hub's customer-side optical-to-electrical-to-optical interface where by selection of suitable single-mode wavelengths that can be multiplexed back into the network.

MEMs switch channels return path optical signal to a suitable receiver port on the network all-fiber couplers side of the MEMs switch. The all-fiber couplers multiplex the multiple single-mode wavelength return path signals, regenerate them if necessary, or launch them back into the neighborhood's return path top FSOC device.

Having described preferred embodiments of a novel local access network (which are intended to be illustrative and not limiting), it is noted that modifications and variations can be made by persons skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiments of the invention disclosed which are within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention with the details and particularly required by the patent laws, what is claimed and desired protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A communication node comprising: a free space communication device to selectively communicate with a first network node of a plurality of network nodes by way of a free space optical channel; a radio frequency communication device to selectively communicate with the first network node by way of a radio frequency channel; a signal monitor; and a switch in communication with the free space communication device, the radio frequency communication device and the signal monitor, wherein the switch selects between reception from the free space optical channel and the radio frequency channel; and wherein the signal monitor is in communication with each of the free space communication device and the radio frequency communication device to monitor a first signal strength of the free space optical channel and a second signal strength of the radio frequency channel, wherein the signal monitor issues commands to the switch to select the free space communication device if the first signal strength is greater than the second signal strength, and command the switch to select the radio frequency communication device if the second signal strength is greater than the first signal strength.
 2. The communication node of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transceiver in communication with a central controller, to receive commands from the central controller.
 3. The communication node of claim 2, wherein the wireless transceiver is a radio telephone transceiver.
 4. The communication node of claim 1, further comprising a second switch that directs an exchange of data between the first network node and a second network node of the plurality of network nodes, wherein operation of the second switch is responsive to commands received from a central controller.
 5. The communication node of claim 4, wherein the second switch comprises a plurality of in-ports and a plurality of out-ports, wherein the second switch performs routing of signals from the plurality of in-ports into the plurality of out-ports.
 6. The communication node of claim 1, further comprising an optical receiver in communication between the free space communication device and the signal monitor, to generate an alarm responsive to a signal strength of the optical receiver falling below a threshold level.
 7. The communication node of claim 1, wherein detecting an optical received signal strength of the free space optical channel falling below a threshold level is indicative of adverse link conditions along a point-to-point link between the communication node and the first network node of the plurality of network nodes.
 8. A method, comprising: detecting, by a controller within a wireless network, an optical received signal strength of a free space optical channel of a network route falling below a threshold level, wherein the network route comprises a first group of nodes of a plurality of nodes of the wireless network; and initiating, by the controller in communication with the plurality of nodes of the wireless network, a reconfiguration of the plurality of nodes of the wireless network according to an alternative network route responsive to the detecting of the optical received signal strength falling below the threshold level, wherein the initiating of the reconfiguration of the plurality of nodes comprises sending commands by way of a land line link.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the optical received signal strength falling below the threshold level is a result of an adverse environmental condition, and further comprising selecting of the alternative network route for bypassing the adverse environmental condition.
 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising communicating with the first group of nodes of the plurality of nodes of the wireless network by way of cellular radio telephone communication.
 11. The method of claim 8, further comprising: generating an alarm responsive to the optical received signal strength falling below the threshold level; and transmitting the alarm to the controller by way of the land line link.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of nodes is in communication via respective point-to-point links, and wherein each of the respective point-to-point links includes a first channel for coupling to a first network node of the plurality of nodes through a receive path and a second channel for coupling to a second network node of the plurality of nodes through a transmit path.
 13. The method of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of nodes performs routing of signals from a plurality of in-ports of a switch into a plurality of out-ports of the switch.
 14. A method, comprising: detecting, by a controller, an optical received signal strength of a first free space optical channel falling below a certain level, wherein the first free space optical channel provides a communications link by pointing an optical data unit in a first network node in a direction from the first network node to a second network node in a plurality of network nodes; and providing, by the controller, control signals to repoint the optical data unit in the first network node to a third network node in the plurality of network nodes, thereby establishing a second free space optical channel responsive to detecting the optical received signal strength falling below the certain level.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the control signals are sent by way of radio telephone communication.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the controller is a central controller, and the method further comprises coupling each of the network nodes over a radio telephone system.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein each of the network nodes performs routing of signals from a plurality of in-ports of a switch into a plurality of out-ports of the switch.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein each of the network nodes is in communication via respective point-to-point links, and wherein each of the respective point-to-point links includes a first channel for coupling to a first network node of the network nodes through a receive path and a second channel for coupling to a second network node of the network nodes through a transmit path.
 19. The method of claim 14, wherein the detecting of the optical received signal strength of the first free space optical channel falling below a level is indicative of adverse link conditions along a respective point-to-point link that provides the communication link between the first network node and the second network node.
 20. The method of claim 14, wherein re-routing of signals for the network nodes along the second free space optical channel comprises causing a switch to direct signals between one of a plurality of input ports to one of a plurality of output ports. 